Seeking to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship.

The Mexico Institute, AL DÍA: News and Analysis from the Mexico Institute, 07/13/2012

The Mexico Institute, AL DÍA: News and Analysis from the Mexico Institute, 7/13/12

Each morning, through the Mexico Portal feature, “¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día”, we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from five major Mexican dailies: Reforma, El Universal, La Jornada, Excélsior and Milenio. Enjoy!

Templo Mayor: President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto is thinking of perhaps including someone close to Andrés Manuel López Obrador in his cabinet and the name floating around seems to be that of Juan Ramón de la Fuente, this relationship would be seen more like ‘you give me a job and I will give you legitimacy’; President Calderón has signed the controversial ACTA though Senate advised him not to, people are saying that he did this in order to please the U.S.; Fernando Larrazabal, mayor of Monterrey, who has been involved in all types of turbidities will go to San Lázaro as a federal deputy.

Bajo Reserva,”Monex y Soriana preocupan al IFE”: The cases of Monex and Soriana very much worry Leonardo Valdés Zurita, the president of the IFE, because of the complexity and political explosiveness; Though President Calderón publicly signed the Law of the Victims bill he sent it back to Congress, Congress then approved it, but was then sent back by the Office of the Governing Secretary and now it is said that the document has arrived in Los Pinos and is in the hand of the PAN; Members of PRD in the DF declare that professor René Bejarano conspired against the PRD and worked with both the PAN and the PRI to ensure that the PRD did not win delegation of Cuajimalpa.

Clase Política, Miguel Ángel Rivera, “Conflicto estudiantil en puerta:” Starting this Sunday the #YOSOY132 will have a motive for reactivating itself because the lists of who is admitted to higher education institutions will be published. Unofficial calculations estimate that more than 140 thousand students may have been rejected in the nation…AMLO is insisting that the presidential elections be annulled, he claims he has proof that over five million votes were purchased and wants to denounce the massive expenses in publicity…In addition to the PAN’s major electoral losses, they are being fined one million 868 thousand pesos because of two television ads which linked ex PRI governors to narcotics traffickers…

Leo Zuckermann, “Tres iniciativas de Peña: dos interesantes y una dudosa:” After responding to AMLO’s fraud allegations, Peña announced three initiatives which he wanted to start working on before he took office. The first is to increase transparency throughout the Mexican government and particularly in state offices; Zuckermann says that it is a good idea and that it is high time that local politics become more transparent. The second is to create an autonomous citizen run organization which will supervise the publicity contracts between the government and the media. This should give people greater access to information from the government and enable freedom of the press. Peña has not explained how this will happen and Zuckermann thinks that though it sounds like a good idea it will be difficult to implement. The third initiative is the creation of National Anti-Corruption Commission which can investigate and sanction acts of corruption. Zuckermann does not have faith in this proposal because similar commissions have been created in the past without any success; he is concerned that it will turn into another, “bureaucratic monster.”

Trascendió: With Luis Videgaray at its head the PRI has started informal conversations with members of the Secretariat of Finance. The objective is to exchange points of views on the fiscal reform which will be proposed to the Congress in the following months… Enrique Peña Nieto’s team has said that AMLO’s predicted protest is not their first priority…Inside the PAN, things will not go well for Calderón during his lame duck period; among the elected PAN deputies and senators there is a strong desire to prevent future parliamentary coordinators who are recommended by the president.